Ways to Save on College TextBooks and School Supplies

As if saving for higher education wasn't hard enough, you'll spend a fortune buying college textbooks and supplies each semester. It doesn't help that buying textbooks ain't that much fun. 

Easy Tips for Saving on College Textbooks

• Shop around. Typically universities only have one bookstore on campus, and that bookstore is able to raise prices because of its monopoly on the market. Take your syllabus and shop at the other bookstores in town. Usually there are other student bookstores slightly off campus that will offer a better deal.
• Try online book sellers. Check out Amazon.com but watch out for a low seller rating. Make sure to only buy from reputable online sellers, and shop early. It can take up to a week to get your textbooks in the mail, so don't wait until the last minute.
• Only buy the required books. So many students want to buy books that the professor recommends, but it's really not necessary.
• Try to find a used textbooks. Ask your professor if it's okay to use that one instead of a newer edition.
• Use your library. Professors always put required texts on hold at the library. You may not be the only one using this tactic, so again, don't wait until the last second.
• Network! Ask friends if they have any used txtbooks they you may be able to use, and see if they will sell you their used textbooks. You don't make that much money selling your books back to the store, so it might be in their best interest to sell it to you for more than they will make and for less than you will buy it for. It's a win-win for everyone! Well, except the bookstore.
• Rent your books. Much like Netflix, both BookRenter.com and Chegg.com allow you to rent the new and used textbooks you need.
• Take a deep breath. Sometimes a brand new edition comes out and your professor insists on that version, but you can't get it anywhere other than your overpriced campus bookstore. Hey, it happens - and it sucks - but look at all the other books you can save money on if you just invest a little bit of time and energy.

Easy Tips for Saving on School Supplies

• Share with a friend. You can go halfsies on a book purchase and other sharable school supplies and take turns using them.
• Check out any organizations that give away free office supplies, such as student unions or political groups. Plus, libraries usually will allow you to print off documents without a fee, letting you save your paper and ink.
• Go to the first class before purchasing so that you'll know exactly what books and supplies to get. You might not even stay in the class, so it's best to be absolutely sure before you shell out hundreds of dollars on books. Student bookstores typically have very strict return policies, making it very difficult to return that Chemistry textbook.